Memphian Greg Ericson is pushing a new/old plan to redevelop the Pyramid. He wants to build an indoor theme park in the Pyramid complete with an indoor roller coaster. Before you scoff at the idea, consider Space Mountain at Disney World. That's exactly what that is -- an indoor roller coaster.
The link to the full story can be found in the Sunday, September 9, Commercial Appeal:
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2007/sep/09/b9pyra/
The plans also call for a refurbishment for the carousel from Libertyland, completion of the inclinator (finally!) and a major retail component that could include either Bass Pro Shops or its competitor Cabella's. The sense that I got reading through the article is that Ericson included Bass Pro Shops as a matter of political expediency. Bass Pro currently has a letter of intent with the City to redevelop the Pyramid into a giant Bass Pro store. If that happens, that would be great but Bass Pro has an out in the letter of intent and has not in the two years that it has been studying the Pyramid given any real sign that it is going to move forward with its plans anytime soon. Erickson may or may not have the real ability to pull off this plan but the fact that ambitious plans are being proposed as alternatives to a Bass Pro Shop that may never materialize is a great sign. My uneducated guess is that time is beginning to run out on Bass Pro to make a final decision. The City seems like it will be patient with Bass Pro for a little while longer but we now have another option should Bass Pro decide that the Pyramid is not right for it. Then again, this proposal may be exactly what Bass Pro needs to make a decision. Either way, exciting things appear to be planned for the Pyramid. We'll all have to be patient with this because the redevelopment of the Pyramid is enormously complex but we're farther along today than we have been. Memphis has a bright future ahead of it and so does the Pyramid.
What would you rather see in the Pyramid? A giant Bass Pro or an indoor amusement park?
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I would like to see a group ready and willing to put their money up and get a good plan going instead of a group that just consumes time and energy without getting the deal done.
The Theme Park idea has more legitimacy behind it than Bass Pro . And the Theme Park group wants to take over payments that taxpayers are currently responsible for.
This is no time for city leaders to have their patience tested as if it were their first time fishing and they are stuck with an unprepared Guide. Now they can fire the guide (Bass Pro)and pick one (Erickson Group) that doesn't drain patience.
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